Gold From Coal and Stone: Ernst III of Holstein-Schauenburg

While others ruined themselves with enormous buildings, Ernst III was one of the beneficiaries of early absolutism. He supplied others with the material needed for construction and metalworking. On 28 January 2021, auction house Künker offers a 10fold ducat of this enterprising count.

Lösers in Death Rituals: The Funeral of John Frederick of Brunswick-Calenberg

On 28th January 2021 auction house Künker offers selected lösers from the Popken Collection. One of them gives us a clue as to what lösers may have been used for. We learn from a book that this coin was distributed as a gift of honour to the princely attendees of the funeral of John Frederick of Brunswick-Calenberg.

The Giesen Collection: The Coinage Imagery of the Ottonian and Salian Dynasties

If you want to understand the world of the Ottonian and Salian dynasties, you have to study their coins. The Giesen Collection, one of the most important collections on this subject in recent decades, is perfectly suited for this purpose. Frankfurter Münzhandlung offers this collection in its upcoming auction.

What Can Be Seen on Euro Coins: The Brandenburg Gate Part 2

It took a long time for the Brandenburg Gate to be featured on German 10, 20 and 50 cent coins. There is simply no better symbol to remind of the reunification of East and West Germany after the Iron Curtain came down.

What Can Be Seen on Euro Coins: The Brandenburg Gate Part 1

Every motif on euro coins represents a country’s national identity. It took a long time for the Brandenburg Gate to be featured on German 10, 20 and 50 cent coins. At the beginning, the monument was extremely controversial, the architect was even mocked for it.

The Hunting Pleasures of the Landgrave of Hesse-Darmstadt

Louis VIII, Landgrave of Hesse-Darmstadt, went down in history as the Hunting Landgrave. With the help of coins that were sold in Künker’s Auction 327, you can learn his story and why he is wronged when derogatorily called simply the Hunting Landgrave.

Caught Between all Stools: Simon V of Lippe

From 22 to 26 June 2020, the Summer Auction Sales 337-338 take place in Osnabrück. In this article, we will introduce you to one of the pieces from the upcoming auctions: a guldengroschen of 1528, minted on behalf of Simon V of Lippe, who had just become count.

Johann Adolf of Schleswig-Holstein-Gottorf and His Portugalesers

Originally, later-born son Johann Adolf was supposed to become Bishop of Bremen and Lübeck, but when his two brothers died, he had to fight for the Duchy of Schleswig-Holstein. Minting portugalesers was part of the diplomatic game. Künker will offer three of these rare portugalesers in their upcoming auction.

Collector, Maecenas, Patient – The Tragic Life of Rudolf II. Part 3: The Collector

As a result of the Turkish war, Rudolf saw his God-given omnipotence tarnished. Thus, the melancholy emperor sought refuge in his art collection, for which he always had money. However, this didn’t help him against his ambitious brother Matthias.

Collector, Maecenas, Patient – The Tragic Life of Rudolf II. Part 2: The Emperor

On his coins, Rudolf II displayed the high aspirations he had for his reign. However, day-to-day business was though and then war broke out against the Turks. And medals played a crucial role in it.